The source confirmed that Labour’s promise of a maximum 20 to one ratio between the highest and lowest paid staff in public sector organisations would apply to those directly employed by the BBC.

The comment came after Prime Minister Theresa May said the figures released by the BBC on salaries of on-air talent showed that “there are some people who are working in the public sector who are very well paid”.

Mr Corbyn made no comment on BBC salaries during the final session of Prime Minister’s Questions before the summer recess, when he concentrated his attack on the Government’s record on low pay.

But a source later told reporters that policies in Labour’s manifesto designed to tackle income inequality - including the maximum pay ratio in the public sector, a higher income tax rate for the top 5% of earners and an excess pay levy on organisations with staff on more than £330,000 - would apply to the BBC.